La Mia Famiglia: Never Let Them Steal Your Name: Scarpo, Anthony: 9781076725875: Amazon.com: Books

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe the story as fascinating, interesting, and real-life drama unfolding as a young Italian boy tells the story of his family. The writing quality is described as well-written, descriptive, and easy to read. Readers appreciate the author's honesty and courage in recounting his fearful yet formative years.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read

  Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2024

  An absolute page turner, excellent book. Loved reading about Tampa’s history and all the crazy things that happened. It provided a great message about family, life and faith.
  

  One person found this helpful

  Report

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! So close to home…

  Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022

  I went through this book in no time and could visualize so many things since I am from Tampa. Tony and I were on the swim team together in high school and he kept this a secret. Can you imagine living that life knowing what your parents face every day? Kuddos to your parents and to you. I’m glad you finally told your story and you told it in great style. There are so many twists and turns that kept me from not putting the book down. This book is a great read that will make you laugh and cry and everything in between.
  

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Memories of Yesteryear...

  Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2019

  I went to high school with Tony. I grew up in Forest Hills in North Tampa. I knew Tony from a close distance, but had several close friends that knew him through college and adulthood.Never in a million years had i any idea the dark doublesided life of his family. Arts Lounge was a popular lounge but never knew it was his family business.I cannot imagine what he lived through, and how in the hell did he keep it so hidden?The personal pressure had to be great.He had to become a man at the age of a young boy. Honestly, i dont think i could have done it. The lessons of life taught to Tony from his father, and family gave him the strength and determination to grow up fast, be the protector and help provide for his family. Not only is this book entertaining to read, with all the guts of Goodfellas, it is also a great history lesson of the Tampa Bay Area. He writes of landmarks and boyhood hangouts i had long forgotten. Tony, much Congratulations, you deserve the success that is headed your way! I would love to see your story on the big screen..God bless !
  

  One person found this helpful

  Report

• 4.0 out of 5 stars Page-turning memoir.

  Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019

  An extraordinary coming-of-age story in 1960-70s Tampa, where the ugly underbelly of the the city continually impacted and threatened the life and family of the author.
  

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Holds your attention to the last word

  Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023

  Had to wait weeks to check this book out from the library! It was so good that I bought my own copy to read it over and over again. It’s that good! Growing up in Tampa at about the same time, I was amazed at knowing most of the landmarks Anthony was talking about! Kept my interest till the end!
  

  

  5.0 out of 5 stars

  Holds your attention to the last word

  Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023

  Had to wait weeks to check this book out from the library! It was so good that I bought my own copy to read it over and over again. It’s that good! Growing up in Tampa at about the same time, I was amazed at knowing most of the landmarks Anthony was talking about! Kept my interest till the end!
  

  Images in this review

  

  2 people found this helpful

  Report

• 5.0 out of 5 stars This book made quite an impression on me

  Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023

  I really enjoyed this book! Tony Scarpo’s compelling and engaging story had me hooked from start to finish. “La Mia Famiglia: Never Let Them Steal Your Name” is part suspense, part drama and part first-person true crime expose. Not only do we meet an unforgettable cast of characters who comprised Tony’s childhood and teenage years, the historical and contextual details of life in Tampa, Florida in the 1970s are well researched and presented.

  A coming-of-age story, Tony vividly brings his adolescent years to life recounting off road circus “freaks,” porn movie productions, bookmaking, mob hits, police corruption, a law enforcement officer’s assassination, devil worshipping, prostitution, and marijuana cultivation! I’ve left a few topics out, but this is actually a very uplifting story of faith and making difficult decisions when faced with the most tempting choices.

  Through his Catholic faith and influential role models, Tony navigated a most remarkable childhood, and lived to tell the tale. Still, it’s a wonder and a no-wonder at the same time that Tony kept his stories bottled up for all these years. “La Mia Famiglia: Never Let Them Steal Your Name” made quite an impression on me. I recommend it highly.

  2 people found this helpful

  Report

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Growing up hard in Florida !

  Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2019

  If you grew up in Florida this book will hit home but it applies to anyone anywhere. There are few books that focus on being raised as a Floridian but this book does it with several major twists. Once you get past chapters 4 and 5 it is very hard to put this book down. It's an easy read but you could not make up what's going to happen next in your own mind. Just when you think you know what's coming next another twist occurs. If you ever thought that growing up was tough on you personally then you should read this book. Florida historians will love this book as well as Tampa natives. You have good and evil, organized crime vs. law and order, family values and the determination to live a normal life all wrapped up in one book. My only regret is that the book and story had to end. I am sending additional copies as gifts to family and friends and then we will get together to discuss the book. I hope someone picks up the movie rights and it becomes a motion picture.
  

  One person found this helpful

  Report

• 5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating True Story!

  Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2020

  What a wonderful book! I’ve seen all three Godfather movies and the first thing I learned from Tony Scarpo’s account of his family’s struggles is that the Mafia as portrayed in the movies was real. Instead of the fictional Corleone Family, Tony’s account focuses on the other side of the law, on his family's struggle, and what he and his father endured to save their business and protect their family against the violent and predatory Trafficante family and the municipal corruption so pervasive in Tampa in those days. Tony had to become the man of the family in many ways at a young age. Tony Scarpo is the classic example of how struggle against dangerous and overwhelming challenges can make a person stronger and more determined to succeed. In spite of the deprivations and violence, Tony Scarpo drew courage from his loving family, and used his entrepreneurial genius to become one of Tampa’s most prominent and prosperous citizens.